The mood was certainly more upbeat Monday after a win, as it should be. But when asked about improvement from week one to week two, the phrase Husky players could have all used was 'cautious optimism'. The subjects ranged from 'camp legs' to defensive line coach Randy Hart. And here are their answers.

After watching a complete spring and the fall two-a-day practices, the Husky defense has taken on a completely different feel than a year ago. There are a lot of the same faces but the mix is different, the schemes are different, the attitude is different, and the results will be different.

An unlikely candidate has taken over this fall as the first-team defensive end, and his name is Dan Milsten. The second-year player out of Rogers High has opened some eyes with his play this fall and moved ahead of a few big names on the depth chart.

Manase Hopoi came to Montlake as a partial qualifier in 2001. Two years later, he's become one of the biggest playmakers on the defensive side of the football. The junior from Sacramento, Calif. is anxious to get back out on the field and get the ball rollin'.

After seven practices, it appears that there is a sense of urgency surrounding Husky Football. Things have changed, and my prediction of Kenny James emergence was thwarted by the injury curse. Regardless, at the halfway point of spring we can definitely see the influence of the new members of the coaching staff.